Depression

Effects of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Clinically Diagnosed Samples: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Asad A, Kirk M, Zhu S, Dong X, Gao M · Nutrition reviews · 2025 · n=1401

The use of prebiotics and probiotics as a treatment for psychiatric conditions has gained interest due to their potential to modulate the gut-brain axis. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in psychiatric populations. The aim was to comprehensively review and appraise the effectiveness of prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic interventions in reducing clinical depression and anxiety symptoms. Systematic searches were conducted across Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Science Citation Index from database inception to May 22, 2023. Randomized controlled trials investigating prebiotic, probiotic, or synbiotic interventions for treating clinical depression or anxiety symptoms in clinical samples were included. Data were extracted on study characteristics, intervention details, and outcome measures. The Cochrane Collaboration Tool was used to assess the risk of bias. The standardized mean

Association between postpartum depression and breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ahmadinezhad GS, Karimi FZ, Abdollahi M, NaviPour E · BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the postpartum period. Depression can decrease self-efficacy in breastfeeding by reducing the mother's self-confidence. Considering the conflicting results regarding the relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding self-efficacy, this systematic review was conducted to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and postpartum depression. In this systematic review, published articles in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched using English keywords "Self-efficacy, breastfeeding, breastfeeding Self-efficacy, depression, postpartum depression" without publication date limit. Data analysis was done with employing STATA14 software. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 index which was 0%. Therefore, the fixed effects method was used to combine the data and perform meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that based on the fixed ef

Global prevalence of depression in menopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jia Y, Zhou Z, Xiang F, Hu W, Cao X · Journal of affective disorders · 2024 · n=817

An association between the menopause and depression is widely reported. This review aims to determine the global prevalence of depression in menopausal women (this includes women in perimenopause and postmenopause). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were systematically searched from database inception until March 1, 2024. Studies with validated methods for assessing the prevalence of depression in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women were included. Two authors independently extracted relevant data. Random effects meta-analysis and Meta-regression analysis were performed using Stata software. Total of 55 studies (76,817 participants) were included in the review. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence. The pooled depression prevalence in menopausal women was 35.6 % (95 % CI: 32.0-39.2 %), with 33.9 % (95 % CI: 27.8-40.0 %) in perimenopausal women, and 34.9 % (95 % CI: 30.7-39.1 %) in postmenopa

A systematic review of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for postpartum depression.

Yang L, Di YM, Shergis JL, Li Y, Zhang AL, Lu C · Complementary therapies in clinical practice · 2018

Chinese medicine is increasingly used by women with postpartum depression (PPD). We systematically analyzed randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for PPD. Studies were retrieved from English and Chinese databases. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess methodological quality. Fifteen CHM, and three acupuncture studies were included. Low quality evidence suggested that CHM alone or combined with antidepressants as add-on therapy may reduce symptoms of depression compared to placebo or antidepressants on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). There was no statistically significant difference between acupuncture and antidepressants. Adverse events were rare. CHM reduced PPD symptoms greater than placebo or antidepressants. Acupuncture was neither superior nor inferior to antidepressants. More rigorously designed studies are required to confirm the effect of CHM and acupuncture for PPD.

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders: Guide de pratique 2024 du Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments pour le traitement des troubles de l'humeur, des troubles anxieux et des troubles connexes périnatals.

Vigod SN, Frey BN, Clark CT, Grigoriadis S, Barker LC, Brown HK · Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie · 2025

BackgroundThe Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) publishes clinical practice guidelines for mood and anxiety disorders. This CANMAT guideline aims to provide comprehensive clinical guidance for the pregnancy and postpartum (perinatal) management of mood, anxiety and related disorders.MethodsCANMAT convened a core editorial group of interdisciplinary academic clinicians and persons with lived experience (PWLE), and 3 advisory panels of PWLE and perinatal health and perinatal mental health clinicians. We searched for systematic reviews of prevention and treatment interventions for perinatal depressive, bipolar, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders (January 2013-October 2023). We prioritized evidence from reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), except for the perinatal safety of medications where reviews of large high-quality observational studies were prioritized due to the absence of RCT data. Targeted searches for individual s

Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) guideline for the gene-drug interaction between CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 and antipsychotics.

Beunk L, Nijenhuis M, Soree B, de Boer-Veger NJ, Buunk AM, Guchelaar HJ · European journal of human genetics : EJHG · 2024

The Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) aims to facilitate pharmacogenetics implementation in clinical practice by developing evidence-based guidelines to optimize pharmacotherapy. A guideline describing the gene-drug interaction between the genes CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 and antipsychotics is presented here. The DPWG identified gene-drug interactions that require therapy adjustments when respective genotype is known for CYP2D6 with aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, haloperidol, pimozide, risperidone and zuclopenthixol, and for CYP3A4 with quetiapine. Evidence-based dose recommendations were obtained based on a systematic review of published literature. Reduction of the normal dose is recommended for aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, haloperidol, pimozide, risperidone and zuclopenthixol for CYP2D6-predicted PMs, and for pimozide and zuclopenthixol also for CYP2D6 IMs. For CYP2D6 UMs, a dose increase or an alternative drug is recommended for haloperidol and an alternative drug or titrati

Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss.

Tsai Do BS, Bush ML, Weinreich HM, Schwartz SR, Anne S, Adunka OF · Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2024

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a prevalent but often underdiagnosed and undertreated condition among individuals aged 50 and above. It is associated with various sociodemographic factors and health risks including dementia, depression, cardiovascular disease, and falls. While the causes of ARHL and its downstream effects are well defined, there is a lack of priority placed by clinicians as well as guidance regarding the identification, education, and management of this condition. The purpose of this clinical practice guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities and provide clinicians trustworthy, evidence-based recommendations regarding the identification and management of ARHL. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with explanation of the support in the literature, evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. The target patients for the guideline are any individuals aged 50 years and older. The

Effect of multicomponent intervention on malnutrition in older adults: A multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Chen B, Zhao H, Li M, Zhao T, Liao R, Lu J · Clinical nutrition ESPEN · 2024

Malnutrition is a significant geriatric syndrome (GS) prevalent in older adults and seriously affects patient prognosis and quality of life. We assessed the impact of the multicomponent intervention of health education, dietary advice, and exercise with oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) on nutritional status, body composition, physical functions, and quality of life. This multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) was performed from April 2021 to April 2022. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, and 99 older adults with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition were enrolled in six nursing homes. All participants were randomly assigned to the control (health education plus standard diet plus exercise) or research (health education plus standard diet plus exercise plus ONS) group. The research group consumed ONS (244 kcal, 9.8g protein, and 9.6g fat per time) twice a day between meals. The primary outcomes were changes in the nutritional status and body composition from baseli

Vitamin C supplementation promotes mental vitality in healthy young adults: results from a cross-sectional analysis and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Sim M, Hong S, Jung S, Kim JS, Goo YT, Chun WY · European journal of nutrition · 2022

We aimed to investigate the link of vitamin C status with vitality and psychological functions in a cross-sectional study, and examine their causal relationship through a randomized controlled trial (RCT). We first conducted a population-based cross-sectional investigation of healthy young adults (n = 214, 20-39 years), and analyzed the associations of serum vitamin C concentrations with vitality (fatigue and attention) and mood status (stress, depression, and positive and negative affect) using Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. Next, we performed a double-blind RCT in healthy subjects whose serum vitamin C concentrations were inadequate (< 50 μmol/L). Subjects were randomly allocated to receive 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day for 4 weeks (n = 24) or a placebo (n = 22). We assessed vitality, which included fatigue, attention, work engagement, and self-control resources, and measu

Effect of Long-term Vitamin D3 Supplementation vs Placebo on Risk of Depression or Clinically Relevant Depressive Symptoms and on Change in Mood Scores: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Okereke OI, Reynolds CF 3rd, Mischoulon D, Chang G, Vyas CM, Cook NR · JAMA · 2020 · n=353

Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D have been associated with higher risk for depression later in life, but there have been few long-term, high-dose large-scale trials. To test the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on late-life depression risk and mood scores. There were 18 353 men and women aged 50 years or older in the VITAL-DEP (Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial-Depression Endpoint Prevention) ancillary study to VITAL, a randomized clinical trial of cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention among 25 871 adults in the US. There were 16 657 at risk for incident depression (ie, no depression history) and 1696 at risk for recurrent depression (ie, depression history but no treatment for depression within the past 2 years). Randomization occurred from November 2011 through March 2014; randomized treatment ended on December 31, 2017, and this was the final date of follow-up. Randomized assignment in a 2 × 2 factorial design to vitamin D3 (2000 IU/

Benefits, side effects, and uses of Hericium erinaceus as a supplement: a systematic review.

Menon A, Jalal A, Arshad Z, Nawaz FA, Kashyap R · Frontiers in nutrition · 2025

Hericium erinaceus (HE), commonly known as the Lion's Mane mushroom, is an edible, medicinal fungus containing bioactive polysaccharides. It shows promising properties, including neuroprotective, anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory effects. The mushroom's bioactive chemical components, derived from its fruiting bodies and mycelia (erinacines), demonstrate promising neural-stimulating activity. This systematic review investigates existing literature on the clinical use of HE, outlining its benefits and side effects related to neural stimulation, apoptotic activity, the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing microbiota, and its role in mood dysregulation, with the aim of establishing a safety profile for the supplement. A systematic literature search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed was searched for relevant, peer-reviewed articles published between Ja

Evidence map of nutrient interventions for major depression: a systematic review protocol.

Zhang D, Li C, Tian X, Miao G, Shi W, Lu H · Systematic reviews · 2025

Depression severely impacts quality of life globally. While traditional treatments show efficacy, many patients respond poorly. Nutritional interventions demonstrate potential as safe, economical adjunctive therapies. However, current evidence is scattered and heterogeneous, lacking systematic evaluation. This study aims to systematically evaluate evidence for various nutritional interventions in depression and create an evidence gap map (EGM). We will conduct a systematic review using the EGM approach. Major medical databases will be searched for relevant studies published up to present. Two independent researchers will screen literature, extract data, and assess evidence quality. Multiple tools will be used for quality assessment: Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0 for RCTs, ROBINS-I for non-RCTs, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. The GRADE system will be employed for overall evidence grading. EPPI-Reviewer Web will generate the EGM. We will analyze evidence distribution

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Among Adults With Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aaron RV, Ravyts SG, Carnahan ND, Bhattiprolu K, Harte N, McCaulley CC · JAMA network open · 2025

Depression and anxiety are common among adults with chronic pain, but their prevalence is unclear. To evaluate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among adults with chronic pain and identify factors that moderate prevalence. A literature search was conducted of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library from January 2013 to October 2023. Studies reporting the prevalence of depression or anxiety using a validated assessment tool among adults with chronic pain (excluding chronic headache disorders). A total of 31 159 initial records were identified, and 5177 full texts were screened. Data were extracted per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guideline using Covidence. Two independent reviewers completed abstract screening, full-text review, and data extraction and rated risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analyses were applied to pool prevalence, assess moderation, and compare prevalence of depression or anxiety among samples with ch

Ameliorating Effect of the Edible Mushroom Hericium erinaceus on Depressive-Like Behavior in Ovariectomized Rats.

Anuar AM, Minami A, Matsushita H, Ogino K, Fujita K, Nakao H · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin · 2022

Estrogen deficiency during menopause causes a variety of neurological symptoms, including depression. The edible Lion's Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (HE), is a medicinal mushroom that has the potential for a neuroprotective effect and ameliorating neurological diseases, such as depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. HE contains phytoestrogens, including daidzein and genistein. However, the ameliorating effect of HE on menopausal symptoms is not well understood. Here we investigated the impact of methanol extract of the HE fruiting body on depressive-like behavior in postmenopausal model rats. The activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) causes body weight loss and uterine weight gain. Body weight gain and uterine weight loss by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were reversed with 17β-estradiol (E2) but not with HE. Thus, the phytoestrogens in HE may hardly activate ERα. Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is expre

Potential antidepressant effects of a dietary supplement from the chlorella and lion's mane mushroom complex in aged SAMP8 mice.

Chou MY, Ho JH, Huang MJ, Chen YJ, Yang MD, Lin LH · Frontiers in nutrition · 2022

Since the 1990s, the prevalence of mental illnesses, such as depression, has been increasing annually and has become a major burden on society. Due to the many side effects of antidepressant drugs, the development of a complementary therapy from natural materials is an urgent need. Therefore, this study used a complex extract of chlorella and lion's mane mushroom and evaluated its antidepressant effects. Six-month-old male senescence-accelerated mice prone-8 (SAMP8) were divided into positive control; negative control; and low, medium, and high-dose groups. All groups were treated with corticosterone (CORT) at 40 mg/Kg/day for 21- days to induce depression in the animals, and the effects of different test substances on animal behavior was observed. The positive control group was intraperitoneally injected with a tricyclic antidepressant (Fluoxetine, as tricyclic antidepressant), the control group was given ddH2O, and the test substance groups were administered test samples once daily f

Clinical depression

NHS

The NHS provides an overview of clinical depression, including symptoms, self-help strategies, and available treatments. It aims to inform and support individuals experiencing depression.

NewPreBP: Project Newborn -Preparation for Birth and Parenthood. A Large Interdisciplinary Randomised Trial on the Effect of Birth and Parent Preparation

n=1766 · NCT01672437 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED

The Danish regions aim to implement antenatal education in small groups for all expectant parents. The effects of general antenatal education for childbirth or parenthood, or both, remain largely unknown. Also it is unknown if antenatal education in small groups is superior to antenatal lectures which is currently standard care. The aim of the trial is to evaluate if antenatal birth and parent preparation in small groups can increase parenting resources thereby easing birth and creating a smoother and less stressful transition to parenthood among the participants, compared to those allocated to standard care. This in turn is hypothesized to improve health and thriving among newborn families and affect their use of healthcare services. A thorough process evaluation will be conducted highlighting enabling factors and barriers to the implementation. Finally cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted. Individually randomised trial sited at Hvidovre Hospital, a large birth clinic in the Copenhagen Capital Region of Denmark. Participants: 1756 pregnant women ≥ 18 years old, recruited before 20+0 weeks gestation, due to give birth at Hvidovre Hospital. Being legally able and willing to provide signed consent, and being fluent in Danish. Women are randomised to receive: 1. A research-based birth and parenting program. The intervention consists of 4 sessions in small groups that last for 2,5 hours per session at 25, 33 and 35 weeks of gestation, and a post-natal session 5 weeks after expected due date. 2. Standard care (control group). The pregnant woman and her partner are offered two antenatal lectures in an auditorium. The allocation of participants to the intervention will be 1:1 to the intervention and the control group. Data will be collected via questionnaires at baseline, 37 weeks gestation, 9 weeks post-partum, 6 months post-partum and 1 year post-partum, via the hospital obstetric database, and via the national registers. Analyses will be intention to treat. Subgroup analysis will be conducted in relation to personal and demographic characteristics. Process evaluation will be conducted using questionnaires and qualitative interviews. The incremental societal cost of the intervention will be computed and compared to the measured outcomes in a cost-effectiveness analysis. Outcomes: Stress, parenting alliance, depressive symptoms, wellbeing obstetric intervention, use of health care services, self-efficacy, divorce.

Group Treatment for Adolescents With Depression

n=11 · NCT02115737 · TERMINATED · TERMINATED

Youth with depressive symptoms are at risk for a range of problems later in life. This includes problematic interpersonal relationships, occupational stress, and the occurrence of adult mental disorders. The main purpose of this study is to test how effective two types of group therapy are at reducing depressive symptoms in youth. A focus on group therapy is important because group therapy allows for many youth to be treated in a short amount of time. Group therapy is also helpful because youth can get social support and feel less alone in their symptoms when they participate in group. This study compares two groups, one that targets skills for managing difficult emotional experiences (dialectical behavior therapy skills group) and another group focuses on psychoeducation and is based on a publicly available treatment manual from the Services for Teens At Risk (STAR) Center at the University of Pittsburgh. The results of this study will provide insights regarding the comparative efficacy of these two treatments, and regarding predictors of treatment response.

Being Safe, Healthy, And Positively Empowered (BSHAPE): A Digital Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Health and Safety Outcomes Among Women With Cumulative Exposures to Violence

n=676 · NCT07227337 · RECRUITING · RECRUITING

The purpose of the study is to evaluate a trauma informed digital multicomponent intervention design to improve health and safety outcomes for women with lifetime exposures to violence and co-occurring PTSD and/or depression symptoms

Cochrane reviews on depression

Cochrane

Cochrane Library provides a collection of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on various interventions for depression. It offers high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making.

Depression

TRIP Database

TRIP Database is a clinical search engine that allows users to quickly find high-quality research evidence for clinical practice, including topics related to depression. It aggregates evidence from various sources including guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary research.